Leading with Curiosity
Have you ever noticed the number of endless questions that children will ask? Without shame or embarrassment — just because they are naturally curious.
I recently posted a question on LinkedIn about the intangibles you look for in a candidate, and more than one hiring manager replied that they are interviewing for some version of curiosity: what are the questions you ask? Are you hungry to learn?
In a world where we are glued to our phones, curiosity is a superpower. It opens doors, expands horizons, and allows us the ability to connect with others no matter their background or life story. It helps us build better businesses and develop stronger teams.
Lead with Curiosity.
We all make up stories in our heads—embellish the facts, create patterns out of nowhere, and even assign motives. I have learned the hard way that my presupposed notion of what might be happening in a team situation is not always accurate.
There is an incredible word in the English language called sonder. Defined, sonder is the profound realization that every passerby has a life as complex and vivid as your own, filled with their own personal ambitions, routines, worries, and unique experiences. The same is true with our teams. What you might detect as indifference might be sadness over a strained personal relationship. Similarly, health issues can be a cover-up for boredom at work.
Curiosity allows us to gently dig underneath the surface. Here at Forge, we talk a lot about the truth behind the truth. Generally speaking, you will not get the whole truth the first time you ask a question. But if you show genuine interest in someone’s life and personal story, you will get a truer answer and also a window into this person’s life. It is worth noting that this only really works when it’s genuine and authentic—people can feel “fake” or “forced” curiosity a mile away.
Hire with Curiosity.
It is far too easy to hire simply based off of a resume, without the due diligence needed. Curiosity is what will give you the insight to ask detailed questions. Again, ask the question after the question to determine what is at the heart.
We’ve talked a lot on this blog about great interview questions. Clients will often ask us for help with a list of good questions for an interview, which we are always happy to help provide, along with an interviewing matrix of evaluating the best candidates. But the questions are only good as long as you are listening to the answers. The best interview questions are open-ended, and come as follow-ups to a “prescribed” one. We must get curious about how the person answered, including their body language and what they didn’t say.
I used to hire very quickly—a “one and done” approach . . . until I had some bad hires. (Yes, even as a professional recruiter!! Hiring is hard!). And while I still prioritize moving with speed, I have learned to slow down, be curious, and really identify who will fit in with our team and our culture. It is better to be selective on the front end than regretful on the back end.
Promote curiosity.
As leaders, our teams will imitate what they see us do and say. A Harvard Business Review study (Francesca Gino, 2018) found that when leaders model curiosity, employees are more engaged, more creative, and less likely to avoid sharing ideas. It is easy to feel like as leaders, we “should” have all the answers. But circle back to the opening illustration about our children for a minute. How different is it when we tell our children everything vs letting them explore and problem-solve on their own? We all know which conclusion or learning will have more sticking power.
Curiosity among a team also leads to psychological safety—the ability to say “I don’t know.” And just like in a relationship, a mental orientation towards curiosity allows us to listen and react with vulnerability and openness.
Rather than knowing all the right answers, I want to grow our team’s ability to ask for help. Their curiosity about figuring out the right solution to any recruiting challenge will be what helps them develop personally and professionally.
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Developing a posture of curiosity, especially as an adult, is not always easy. But it is worth it. Curiosity can and will open up new worlds for us. It reserves judgment and allows us to see the world as a child—bright, beautiful, and full of possibility.